INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation is deploying over 1,100 snowplows over the next 48 hours to treat and plow interstates, U.S. routes and state roads due to almost all of Indiana being expected to receive significant snow accumulation.

The National Weather Service is predicting between 6 to twelve inches of snow across most of Indiana from Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon, the department said.

The first round of snowfall is expected to hit the state around 10 p.m. and get heavier around midnight. Monday morning commutes will be impacted, INDOT said.

Another round of snow will hit late Monday and last through Tuesday afternoon, INDOT said.

INDOT plans on patrolling highways on Sunday by 8 p.m. and will remain active during the storm.

Snowplows only travel 25-30 mph and take between 2-3 hours to complete a snow route, according to INDOT. Motorists are urged to stay off the roads, if possible, and give plow drivers plenty of room to clear ice and snow, said the department.

According to the release, INDOT has over 1,100 plows, 200,000 tons of salt, 100,000 gallons of brine and more than 1,800 employees are on call to cover 28,000 miles of road for this winter storm.

If you have to travel, INDOT suggests to slow down and stay behind snowplows. The safest place to drive is the road behind the plow and allow ten car lengths of space in between your vehicle and the plow or hopper spreader.

Do not pass a plow, INDOT states. Plows are wide and often work in tandem to clear the snow.

Be aware of black ice conditions on bridges and exit ramps.

Due to extremely cold temperatures and sub-zero wind chills, salt will take longer to melt snow and ice. Snow drifts can push snow back onto plowed routes.

Four-wheel drive, anti-lock breaks and tractions control are all beneficial in winter weather. However, they cannot replace good driving habits and the need to slow down on snowy and/or icy roads, INDOT said.

Drivers are advised to keep an emergency kit with a phone in case they get stranded.

For travel advisories, visit https://www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/. For the latest driving conditions, traffic cameras and travel speeds, visit https://indot.carsprogram.org.